Lubricating system for lathe-headstocks



G. E. GREENLEAF. LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR LATHE HEADsTocKs.

G. E. GREENLEAF. LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR LATHE HEADSTOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-28| 1918- y PMM su June 89 192@ 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. GREENE/W. LUBRICMING SYSTEM ron LATHE HEAusTocKs.

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En y D o G. E. GREENLEAF. LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR LATHE HEADSTOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI-28. 1918. i

Pawn Jun@ 89 W2@ 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Uhifyf@ STAES PATENT Ffllmh.

GEORGE E. GREENLEAF, 0F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NILES-BEMENT- POND COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR LATHE-HEADSTOCKS.

Application filed September 28, 1918.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, GEORGE E. GREENLEAF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful ,Improvements in Lubricating Systems for Lathe-Headstocks, of which the following is a specification.

The object ofthe invention is to provide an improved automatically operable lubricating system for mechanisms which include a plurality of shafts, gears and other machine elements inclosed in a casing. Stated more specifically, the object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of reservoirs and ducts through which oil can flow by gravity to the several parts requiring lubrication.

The invention is particularly applicable to the headstocks of engine lathes and the invention will be described as so applied. While the invention is in some respects limited to a lathe headstock suchas shown, it will be understood that in other respects the invention is capable of a wider application, the scope of the invention being set forth by the claims appended to the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the invention in connection with a lathe headstock,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 1-1 of Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 3 is a 'front View, partly in section, along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper supplemental gear casing.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper section of the main frame or casing.

Fig. G is a plan view of the lower section of the main frame or casing, this View also showing certain parts of the lubricating system.

Iii-order that the invention may be clearly understood, I have shown in some detail some of the elements of the main driving mechanism and of the feed mechanism, which are included in the'lathe headstock. ft will be understood, however, that these elements do not of themselves constitute any part of the present invention except as they are combined 'with the lubricating system to be particularly described. It will further Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 9, 1929.

serial No. 255,997.

fastened together by means of bolts 3, 3.

Supported on the upper frame section 2 is a supplemental casing 4 having a cover 5. Positioned in this upper supplemental casing are the initial elements of the drive gearing, power preferably being supplied by means of an electric motor 6 supported on the upper section 2 of the main frame. As illustrated, the drive pinion 7 of the motor meshes with a gear S which is rotatable on a pin 9 carried in the walls of the casing 4. 'Also mounted on the pin 9 and rotatable with the gear 8 is a pinion 10 which meshes with a gear 11 rotatably mounted on a pin 12 similar to the pin 9. I

The gear 11 projects downward through an opening 13 in the top wall of the casing section 2 and meshes with a gear 14 on a horizontal intermediate shaft 15. This shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in bearings 1G, 17 and 18 in the casing section 2. Mounted on the shaft 15 are two gears 19 and 2O of different diameters. which are adapted to mesh respectively with one or the other of gears 21 and 22 splined to a horizontal countershaft 23. The shaft 23 is mounted in bearings 24, 25 and 2G in the lower section 1 of the main casing. By means of a grooved collar 27 and a suitably operating lever, which is not shown, the gears 21 and 22 can be moved along the shaft to bring one or the other of them into mesh with its corresponding gear 19 or 20.

Also splined on the countershaft 23 is a gear 28 which is adapted to mesh with a. gear 29 rigidly secured to the main spindle 80. rThe spindle 3() is mounted in divided bearings 31 and 32, the lower parts of the bearings being in the lower section of the main casing and the upper parts of the bearings. consisting of caps 312l and 32"- bolted to the lower section. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper section i is a pinion 36 which is' adapted to mesh.

with a gear 37 on a horizontal shaft 38. This shaft 38 is mounted in bearings 39 and 40 in the lower section of the main frame. Secured to or formed as a part of the front end of the shaft 38 is a pinion 41 which is adapted to mesh with an annular gear 42 secured to or formed as a part of the face plate 34. By means of a suitable lever, which is not shown, fitting a groove 43 in the shaft 38, this shaft can be moved longitudinally in its bearings to bring the gears 37 and 41 into or out of mesh respectively with the gears 36 and 42.

With the several gears in the positions shown, power is transmitted from the motor to the intermediate shaft 15 and thence through the gears 2O and 22 to the countershaft 23. From the countershaft 23 power is transmitted to the face plate through the gears 36 and 37, the shaft 38 and the gears 41 and 42. In this way the face plate isrotated relatively slowly. If a higher speed is desired, the shaft 38 is moved longitudinally to disengage the gears 37 and 41 from the gears 36 and-42 respectively, and the gear 28 is moved into engagement with the gear 29. .If a still higher speed is desired, the gears 21 and 22 are moved to disengage the gear 22 from the gear 20 and to engage the gear 21 with the gear 19.

Secured to the rear end of the spindle 36 is an initial gear 44 of a train of gearing for operating the feed mechanism. This gear 44 meshes` with a gear 45 on a bearing pin 46. The gear 45 in turn meshes with a gear 47 on a rotatable shaft 48. The shaft. is mounted in a bearing 49.

The lubricating system to which the invention relates is automatic in its operation, the oil flowing by gravity to the several bearings and other parts requiring lubrication. The system includes a main distributing duct which is formed integrally in the main casing, extending horizontally along the edge portions thereof. By preference there is a reservoir at a higher elevation and in addition certain intermediate or auxiliary ducts. As illustrated the two main casing sections 1 and 2, together with the supplemental casing 4 and the cover 5, serve to provide a completely closed chamber within which oil is circulated.

to the several main and auxiliary ducts,

from which it flows to the several parts to be lubricated and thence back to the bottom of the chamber to be returned to the reservoir. For elevating the oil from the bottom of the chamber to the reservoir there is provided a pump 50 which is driven by a gear 51 meshing with the aforesaid gear 36. The inlet or suction pipe for the pump is indicated at 52, this pipe serving to draw oil from the bottom of the chamber through a strainer 53. From the pump the oil flows through a pipe 54 to the reservoir 55 in the supplemental casing 4.

From the reservoir 55 the oil flows to the several ducts before referred to. Preferably the main distributing duct is in the form of a groove or channel formed in the joint between the upper and lower sections 1 and 2 of the main casing. The auxiliary ducts may be variously formed and located as required, but I prefer to construct them in the way to be described. v

The oil flows from the reservoir 55 through an aperture or feeder 56 to lubricate f the bearing for the gears 8 and 10. The entrance to the aperture 56 is preferably covered by a felt pad. The major portion of the oil flows from the reservoir through a pipe 57 into an auxiliary reservoir 58 in the lower part of the casing 4. From the reservoir 58 a part of the oil flows through a felt pad into an aperture or feeder 59 for the lubrication of the bearing for the gear 11. Another part of the oil flows through a felt pad into a pipe or feeder 60 which delivers it to an auxiliary duct 61, formed in the top wallof the upper section 2 of the main casing. The major portion ofthe oil flows from the reservoir 58 through a duct or feeder 62 into an auxiliary duct 63 which is in the form of a groove in the top wall of the upper section 2 of the main casing. The duct 63 is shown in Fig. 5 as having several sections at angles to each other, these sections being located to provide for the proper arrangement of the several feeders to be described.

Formed in the joint between the lower and upper sections 1 and 2 of the main casing is the aforesaid main distributing lduct which is designated 64. Preferably, as

receiving recesses of the casing section 2. These grooves 65 and 66 communicate at their ends with the main parts of the duct 64 before described. Oil flows from the auxiliary duct 61 through a felt pad into a pipe or feeder 67 which delivers it to the grooves 65 and 66 adjacent the bearing 31. Similarly, oil flows from the auxiliary duct 63 into a pipe or feeder 68 which delivers it to the grooves 65 and 66 adjacent the bearing 32.

Part of the oil flowing through the pipes 67 and 68 flows directly to the main bearings 31 and 32 through apertures or feeders 69 and 70 which are protected by felt pads. rllhe remainder of the oil Hows through the grooves 65 and 66 into the main parts of the duct 64. Preferably, dams 71, 7l are provided to cause the oil to flow into the front part of the reservoir 64 instead of into the rear part thereof.

lln addition to the oil flowing through the pipe 68, oil also flows out from the duct' 63 through a pipe or feeder 72 to lubricate the bearing 16, through a pipe or feeder 73 to lubricate the bearing for the shaft which carries the gear 51, through an aperture or feeder 74 to the bearing 17, through a pipe or feeder 7 5 to the gears 21 and 22, through an aperture or feeder 76 to the bearing 18, and through a pipe or feeder 77 to lubricate the gear 28. All of these last mentioned feeders are covered by felt pads.

rlhe reservoir 64 is preferably provided with a branch 64il at one side of the bearing 31 and with a branch 64b extending rearward from the front side. A pipe or feeder 78 leads from the branch 64a into an auxiliary duct 79. An aperture or feeder 8O leads from the duct 64 to lubricate the bearing 24. From the branch 64b an aperture or feeder 81 leads oil to the bearing 25 and a pipe or feeder 82 leads oil to the bearing 39. From the duct 64 a pipe or feeder 83 leads oil to the groove 43 and a pipe or feeder 84 leads oil to the bearing 40. All of these last mentioned feeders are covered by felt pads.

F rom the auxiliary duct 79 oil iiows through an aperture or feeder 85 to lubricate the bearing for the gear 45, and through a pipe or feeder 86 to lubricate the bearing 49.

he oil flowing or running out from the several bearings and other lubricated parts, collects in the bottom of the lower section of the housing from which it is returned to the reservoir 55 by the pump 50, as previously stated.

What l claim is:

1. ln a mechanism including bearingsand other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal closed oil distributing duct formed integrally around all sides of the interior of the casing, means to supplj7 oil to the duct, and feeders leading downward from the duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication.

2. In a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally around all sides of the interior of the casing, feeders leading downward from the duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, and means for supplying oil to the duct at both ends of the casing.

3. 1n a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a horizontally divided casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joint between the two sections thereof, and feeders leading downward from the duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication.

4. In a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a horizontally divided casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joint between the two sections thereof, means to supply oil to the duct, and feeders leading downward from the duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication.

5. In a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a horizontally divided casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joint between the two sections thereof,` and extending entirely around the casing and feeders leading downward from the duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication.

6. ln a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a horizontally divided casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joint between the two sections thereof, the casing also having branches of the said distributing duct extending horizontally inward, and feeders leading downward from the main and branch parts of the duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication.

7. ln a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a horizontally divided casing inclosing the said parts and having a horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joint between the two sections thereof, means to supply oil to the duct, the casing also having branches of the said distributing duct extending horizontally inward, and feeders leading downward from the main and branch parts ofthe duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubri,

' raised over the bearings, feeders leading downward from the raised parts of the duct to the said bearings atopposite ends of the casing, and feeders leading downward from other parts of the duct to other bearings and parts requiring lubrication.

9. In a lathe headstock, the combination of a horizontally divided casing having main spindle bearings at opposite ends and inclosing other bearings and parts requiring lubrication, spindle bearing caps secured to the lower casing section and fitting recesses in the upper casing section, the, said casing and caps having an oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joints between the lower and upper casing sections thereof and between the caps and the upper section, which duct extends entirely around the casing and is raised over the bearings, feeders leading downward from the raised parts of the duct-to the spindle bearings, and feeders leading downward from the other parts of the duct to other bearings and parts requiring lubrication.

10. The combination of a horizontally divided casing having bearings at opposite ends and inclosing other bearings and parts requiring lubrication, bearing caps secured to the lower casing section and fitting recesses in the upper casing section, the said casing and caps having an oil distributing duct formed integrally in the i joints between the lower and upper casing sections and between the caps and the upper section, which duct extends entirely around the casing and is raised over the bearings, means for supplying oil to the raised parts of the duct, feeders leading downward from the raised parts of the duct to the said bearings at opposite ends of the casing, and feeders leading downward from other parts of the duct to other bearings and parts requiring lubrication.

l1. The combination of a horizontally divided casing having bearings at opposite ends and inclosing other bearings and parts requiring lubrication, bearing caps secured to the lower casing section and fitting recesses in the upper casing. section, the saidv casing and caps having an oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joints'between the lower and upper casing sections and between the caps and the upper section, which duct extends entirely around the casing and is raised over the bearings, means for supplying oil to the raised parts of the duct, dams at the ends of the raised parts of the duct to prevent the flow of oil to one side, feeders leading downward from the raised parts ofthe duct to the said bearings at opposite ends of the casing, and feeders leading downward from the parts of the duct on the side opposite the dams to other bearings and parts requiring lubrication.

l2. In a mechanism including bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, the combination of a horizontally divided casingginclosing the said parts and having a urnain horizontal oil distributing duct formed integrally in the joint between the two sections thereof, 4the said casing also having an auxiliary duct formed integrally `in the top wall of the upper section, feeders leading downward from the auxiliary duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication, a feeder leading downward from the auxiliary duct to the main duct, and feeders leading downward from the main duct to bearings and other parts requiring lubrication.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

GEORGE E. GREENLEAF. 

